As Paul the
apostle continued to exhort Timothy, he shared with him the
importance of the “holy scriptures” and their roll in
guiding and giving correction in his life. In chapter four and verse
one of this final letter from Paul, he “charges” Timothy
“before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ” as he begins his
final inspirational words to his “dearly beloved son” where
we read:
I charge
you therefore before
God, and the Lord Jesus Christ,
who shall
judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
The
verse begins, “I charge you
therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ,...” Paul
began with, “I charge”
or “earnestly, religiously, attest, testify and solemnly affirm”
“you therefore”
which means “then, accordingly, consequently and these things being
so” “before God”
which refers to “in front of and over and opposite to the Godhead
trinity consisting of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy
Spirit who is the one and only true God”. Paul then added, “and
the Lord” who is “the owner and one who
has control; the master and one who is entitled to honor expressive
of respect and reverence; and the title give to God, the Messiah”
“Jesus” whose name
means “Jehovah is Salvation” “Christ”
or “the anointed one and Messiah”. There was no one greater
before whom Paul could “charge”
and “solemnly affirm” Timothy.
The
verse goes on to say, “...who shall judge the quick and the dead
at his appearing and his kingdom” Paul added this description
of “God and the Lord Jesus Christ” “who shall” or “be
about, intend, have in mind and think to” “judge” which
means “separate, put asunder, pick out, select, choose, approve,
esteem and prefer” “the quick” or “the living,
breathing and enjoying life” “and the dead” which refers
to “one who has breathed his last, lifeless, deceased, departed,
destitute and without life, inanimate and one whose soul is in heaven
or hell”. Paul went on to add the timing of this judgment, “at
his appearing” or “manifestation and brightness especially at
the advent of Christ” “and his kingdom” which means
“royal power, kingship, dominion, rule and dignity conferred in the
Messiah's kingdom”. The One to whom Paul is making reference is
none other than Jesus Christ, and when he arrives on the scene in His
second advent, He will set up His kingdom and “separate, put
asunder, pick out, select, choose, approve, esteem and prefer” both
the living and the dead.
When
we think about Paul's words, we can sense the awesomeness and weight
of this “charge”. Timothy was to take what Paul was about
to write seriously. What if we were “charged” in similar
fashion and with such Holy witnesses before us? How would we respond?
To understand Timothy's position, let us imagine receiving this
letter from Paul and reading these words. What would we think, and
how would we react? The truth is, we have just received Paul's words,
and the words written after these should have pre-eminence in our
minds. As we meditate upon them, may we allow the Lord Jesus to show
us their weight and value, and may we as Timothy take and use these
words in a manner that is pleasing to Him.
Next
time Paul tells Timothy to “preach the word”
and be “instant”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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